According to the Michigan State Police website, the Saginaw County Prosecutor's Office will use the money to fund the positions of two assistant prosecutors and a law clerk/intern.

The office will work collaboratively, the website states, with the Saginaw Police Department, Michigan State Police and the Saginaw County Sheriff's Major Crime Task Force to reduce violent crime by "targeting violent and habitual criminals involved in serious crimes."

State Rep. Stacy Erwin Oakes, D-Saginaw, who formerly worked as a corrections officer and an assistant attorney general, expressed her approval of Gov. Rick Snyder's announcement of the grant.

State Rep. Stacy Erwin Oakes

"These funds will help address the increase in violent crime we’ve seen in Saginaw by utilizing proactive measures to prosecute habitual offenders," Oakes said in a prepared statement.

The funding provided through the grant, slated for use during the 2014 fiscal year, is less than that awarded last year. The 2013 fiscal year distribution to the prosecutor's office was $248,922.

"These grants will be used to improve public safety in Saginaw by combating violent crime, which in turn, will foster a safer and more unified neighborhood," Oakes said. "Public safety is the foundation of every community, and I’m very glad to see these grant funds coming to Saginaw County."

The Michigan State Police Bay Area Narcotics Enforcement Team also received $144,233 in Byrne JAG funding for "undercover techniques to efficiently investigate controlled substances violations and target major narcotics dealers" within a six-county region, the MSP website states.

BAYANET also received less funding for 2014; last year's award was $181,580.

According to Oakes, the agencies will have until Sept. 30, 2014, to spend the funds.

— Jessica Fleischman is a public safety reporter with MLive/The Saginaw News. Contact her at 989-996-0687, email her at jfleisc2@mlive.com or follow her on Twitter or Facebook.